Such is the Duchess's fashion clout that anything she wears becomes an instant sell-out in what retailers have dubbed 'the
Kate Middleton
effect'. The £159 white Reiss dress she wore in her official engagement photographs was reissued after shoppers clamoured to get their hands on it, and the £385 Issa dress she wore for her engagement announcement sold out within 24 hours.

Portas, though, is known for not mincing her words. She discussed the Duchess in an interview with
Heat
magazine, and also turned her fire on the Coalition cabinet.

Told that a 'Mary Portas for Prime Minister' Facebook group was gathering members, she was asked what her first task would be if she got the job.

"I know what I'd do - I'd bloody restyle all those women. I mean, the female cabinet - what an ugly bunch," said Portas, who was brought in by David Cameron to solve the problem of Britain's dying High Streets.

"Do you know, I couldn't look at them. I go in for meetings now and they do dress up for my meetings, but I just want to go, 'Please. No. Not that necklace. Not that skirt.'

"You look at French women and they're like, wow, aren't they? What do we have? I'd say let's just put a bit of sex and glamour in there."

While she did not name names, the cabinet includes Theresa May, the Home Secretary; Baroness Warsi, the party chairman; Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary; and Cheryl Gillan, the Welsh Secretary.

Portas was full of praise for Christina Hendricks, the curvaceous redhead who appears in the
Mad Men
drama.

"How good does she look? I mean, it's a no-brainer. That woman is just totally sex on legs, isn't she? That woman works it, and beautifully."